About the Author

Roland Staud, MD, is a rheumatologist and a professor of medicine
at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, as well as a
noted and internationally renowned medical researcher. Dr. Staud's
continuing and cuttingedge research on fibromyalgia is supported by
the National Institutes of Health and other funding organizations.
His research has clearly demonstrated that patients with
fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) have detectable central nervous system
abnormalities of pain processing resulting in increased pain
sensitivity and prolonged pain experiences. Dedicated to helping
FMS patients by sharing his knowledge as much as possible, Dr.
Staud is greatly appreciated by attendees at major national and
international fibromyalgia and arthritis conferences, where he is a
frequent speaker. He is also on the editorial boards of Pain and
European Journal of Pain . In addition, he is a reviewer for the
Clinical Journal of Pain, Journal of Pain, European Journal of
Pain, and Pain. He has authored many medical journal articles on
fibromyalgia and other topics. Dr. Staud is a diplomate of the
American Board of Rheumatology and the American Board of Internal
Medicine. He is a member of the American College of Rheumatology,
the International Association for the Study of Pain, the American
Pain Society, and the International MYOPAIN Society. Dr. Staud is
licensed to practice medicine in Florida. Christine Adamec has been
a freelance writer for more than 20 years, concentrating on
self-help and medical/health issues. She has authored or coauthored
14 books, including The Encyclopedia of Diabetes (Facts On File,
Inc.) and How to Stop Heartburn (Wiley), and has written numerous
magazine and newspaper health features. Ms. Adamec is a member of
the American Society of Journalists & Authors.